Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-10
Driven Away by Mysterious
Flames.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ATTRIBUTED TIC
a "SPooK" IN New BRUNSWICK.

A correspondent in Woodstock, N B., of
the Boston Sunday Herald writes:
The people of Woodstock are mystified by
the strange scenes which for the past forty
eight hours have been enacted in little two
story frame house in Victoria ST., occupied
by Reginald G. Hcyt. picture frame dealer
His family, consisting of his wife, five
children and two neices, are in state of
dread and anxiety. Since III o'clock yester
day morning no less than forty fires have
broken out in the house. Bedding, furniture,
window shades, clothes and various household
articles have been partially destroyed. Only
untiring vigilance has prevented the house
and its contents from being burned to the
ground ard this would also have caused the
destruction of other wooden buildings in the
neghborhood These fires can be traced to
no human agency and even the scientists are
staggered. Without premonition, with no
lamp lighted or stoves in use, various articles
would burst out into flames. Now 1t would
be a curtain high up out of reach, then a bed
quilt another room would begin to smoke
and shoulder, and as if to puzzle the theo-
rists a carpet-covered lounge was found to
be all afre underneath among the jute
stretched above the springs A basket of
clothes in the shed burst into flames, and the
basket itself was partially consumed.
child's dress hanging on a hook, a feather
bed, a straw mattress-no two articles in the
sane room-were ignited and would have
been consumed, but for water copiously
poured on them. News spread quickly that
Hoyt's house was haunted and great crowds
flocked there. 1t was the talk of the town
last night.
To day a visit was made to the premises by
DR.. Smith, leading physician and druggist,
,rh only thaprv W that of electrical
gaseous combustion, but the fact that the fires
burst forth in rooms, the windows of which
were wide open, seems to refute the suppose
ton. James S Olmstead, of Olmstead Bros,
prominent merchant, also attempted to
investigate the mystery, but gave 1t up as
inexplicabIe. James Walls editor of The
Carleton Sentinel, went to examine into the
matter While he stood in the parlor talking
with Mrs. Hoyt, he was astonished to see
white cotton window curtain burst into flames
at a point near the ceiling. He rushed to the
spot, stood on a chair and with his bands
which were somewhat burned, extuguished
the fire, only to see it break out anew at a
noint far removed from the original blaze
j He came away puzzled William s. Jones,
of Boston in company with Mr. Jarvis of the
the Halifax Banking Company, called at the
house this morning. While he was seated in
the front room taking with Mrs. Hoyt and
George Cornell, the lawyer, childs shrie k
was heard in the adjoining room. and the
party rushed in, to find basket of clothes in
a blaze.
On Saturday afternoon a Herald reporter
/ arrived in town and at once went to investi
gate the matter. He was accompanied by
halt dozen gentlemen who were detailed to
interview members of the family separately
and to examine every nook and corner of
the house ard every article in it Those
gentlemen were A. c. Titus of Newport,
Charles NJ RAYMOND, d. G. Markham of
Providence, c. NJ. Raymond, II. G. Wells,
George ] Raymond, H. C. Anderson and
Mr.. Max j. Raymond of Boston. IL every
room partially burned garments. sheets and
articles of furniture were lying around,
drenched with water, and the walls and cell
Ings were blackened with smoke The chill
dren were huidled about their mother ,everv
one dreading visit from the fire "spook'
and anxiously glsnciug about. There was
no sign of human agency in any of those
fires, nor could the most rigid cross question
ing elicit any information tending 10 clear up
he mystery. On the contrary, II was dis
covered that fire had on one occasion broken
out when no one was in the house. Mr..
Hovt returned from a neighbours house. where
he had taken his family, TO find bed on
fire. Mr. Hoyt is sober, industrious man
and besrs good reputation. HIS property
is not insured The house is insured, but is
not owned by Mr.. Hoyt.